Tamper-evident container

ABSTRACT

A tamper-evident container is disclosed. The tamper-evident container includes a containing base, a lid, and a release structure. The lid is fixed to the containing base for closing. The release structure is disposed at the lid or the containing base. The release structure comprises a break line and at least one hole. The hole is disposed on the break line and the break line is for separating the lid from the containing base.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 102200301, filed Jan. 7, 2013, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present disclosure relates to a container. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a tamper-evident container.

2. Description of Related Art

Tamper-evident containers are containers hardly opened after closing and users need to open them in a predetermined way. In other words, signs on the tamper-evident containers will be shown if someone tries to open them in a non-predetermined way. Therefore, the tamper-evident containers can prevent goods contained therein from stolen that is also the reason why they are widely used in hypermarkets nowadays.

Conventional tamper-evident containers may have a security tape or a detachable strip. If someone does not open the conventional tamper-evident containers via removing the security tape or detaching the detachable strip, a distortion trace will be left on the conventional tamper-evident containers.

However, there would be litter left when buyers take goods out from the conventional tamper-evident containers by removing the security tape or detaching the detachable strip, and such litter would be a burden of environment.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a tamper-evident container includes a containing base, a lid, and a release structure. The lid is fixed to the containing base for closing. The release structure is disposed at the lid or the containing base. The release structure includes a break line and at least one hole. The hole is disposed on the break line and the break line is for separating the lid from the containing base.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a tamper-evident container includes a containing base, a lid, a hinge, and a release structure. The lid is fixed to the containing base for closing. The hinge connects the lid and the containing base. The release structure is disposed at the hinge. The release structure includes a break line and at least one hole. The hole is disposed on the break line and the break line is for separating the lid from the containing base.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure a tamper-evident container includes a containing base, a lid, a hinge, and a release structure. The lid is fixed to the containing base for closing. The hinge connects the lid and the containing base. The release structure is disposed at the hinge. The release structure includes a break line and a plurality of holes. The holes are disposed on the break line and the break line is for separating the lid from the containing base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a tamper-evident container according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A is a three dimensional view of the tamper-evident container of FIG. 1 after closing;

FIG. 2B is a partial cross-sectional view of the tamper-evident container taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the lid separated from the containing base of the tamper-evident container of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 4 is a three dimensional view of a tamper-evident container according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a three dimensional view of the tamper-evident container of FIG. 4 from another perspective;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the lid separated from the containing base of the tamper-evident container of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a three dimensional view of a tamper-evident container according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a three dimensional view of a tamper-evident container according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a tamper-evident container 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2A is a three dimensional view of the tamper-evident container 100 of FIG. 1 after closing. FIG. 2B is a partial cross-sectional view of the tamper-evident container 100 taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2A. In FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, the tamper-evident container 100 includes a lid 110, a containing base 120, and a release structure 130. The lid 110 is fixed to the containing base 120 for dosing the containing base 120 in order to prevent the tamper-evident container 100 opened in a non-predetermined way. The release structure 130 is disposed at the lid 110. The release structure 130 includes a break line 131 and three holes 132. The holes 132 are disposed on the break line 131.

Once the lid 110 fixes to and doses the containing base 120, the tamper-evident container 100 is almost unable to be opened unless a predetermined way is taken. The predetermined way to open the tamper-evident container 100 is to use the release structure 130. The manner the lid 110 fixes to and closes the containing base 120 may be snapping (as FIG. 2B shown), latching, sealing and so on.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the lid 110 separated from the containing base 120 of the tamper-evident container 100 of FIG. 2A. In FIG. 3, users separate the lid 110 from the containing base 120 by the release structure 130. In detail, users may put their fingers in the holes 132 and break the break line 131 to separate the lid 110 from the containing base 120, or users may press the edge of the holes 132 to break the break line 131 and then pull the lid 110. When the tamper-evident container 100 is opened in the predetermined way, there would be no lifter left but the lid 110 and the containing base 120 only. Thus, the tamper-evident container 100 is more convenient to users and also environmentally-friendly. On the other hand, the tamper-evident container 100 may be made of polylactic acid to further reduce the burden of environment.

FIG. 4 is a three dimensional view of a tamper-evident container 200 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 5 is a three dimensional view of the tamper-evident container 200 of FIG. 4 from another perspective. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the tamper-evident container 200 includes a lid 210, a containing base 220, and a release structure 230. The lid 210 is fixed to the containing base 220 for closing the containing base 220 in order to prevent the tamper-evident container 200 opened in a non-predetermined way. The tamper-evident container 200 is integrally formed. The containing base 220 includes two tabs 221 and the release structure 230 is disposed at the containing base 220. The release structure 230 includes a break line 231 and two holes 232. The holes 232 are disposed at the break line 231 and each of the holes 232 is opposite to each of the tabs 221. Once the lid 210 fixes to and closes the containing base 220, the tamper-evident container 200 is almost unable to be opened unless a predetermined way is taken. The manner the lid 210 fixes to and closes the containing base 220 is the same as the description in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the lid 210 separated from the containing base 220 of the tamper-evident container 200 of FIG. 5. In FIG. 6, users may put their fingers in the holes 232 and break the break line 231 to separate the lid 210 from the containing base 220, or users may press the edge of the holes 232 to break the break line 231 and then pull the lid 210. Further, users may also choose to hold the tabs 221 to break the break line 231 so as to separate the lid 210 from the containing base 220. When the tamper-evident container 200 is opened by the release structure 230, there would be no litter left but the lid 210 and the containing base 220 only. Thus, the tamper-evident container 200 is more convenient to users and also environmentally-friendly.

FIG. 7 is a three dimensional view of a tamper-evident container 300 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 7, the tamper-evident container 300 includes a lid 310, a containing base 320, a release structure 330, and hinge 340. The lid 310 is fixed to the containing base 320 for closing the containing base 320 in order to prevent the tamper-evident container 300 opened in a non-predetermined way. The hinge 340 connects the lid 310 and the containing base 320. The tamper-evident container 300 is integrally formed. The release structure 330 is disposed at the hinge 340. The release structure 330 includes a break line 331 and two holes 332. The holes 332 are disposed at the break line 331. Once the lid 310 fixes to and closes the containing base 320, the tamper-evident container 300 is almost unable to be opened unless a predetermined way is taken.

As the first embodiment, the manner the lid 310 fixes to and closes the containing base 320 may be snapping, latching, sealing and so on. Users separate the lid 310 from the containing base 320 by breaking the break line 331. In detail, when users break the break line 311 disposed on the hinge 340, the hinge 340 broken provides an adequate area for users to grasp or hold so as to separate the lid 310 from the containing base 320. There would be no litter left but the lid 310 and the containing base 320 only when the tamper-evident container 300 is opened by the release structure 330. Thus, the tamper-evident container 300 is more convenient to users and also environmentally-friendly. On the other hand, the tamper-evident container 300 may be made of polylactic acid to further reduce the burden of environment.

FIG. 8 is a three dimensional view of a tamper-evident container 400 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 8, the tamper-evident container 400 includes a lid 410, a containing base 420, a release structure 430, and hinge 440. The lid 410 is fixed to the containing base 420 for closing the containing base 420 in order to prevent the tamper-evident container 400 opened in a non-predetermined way. The hinge 440 connects the lid 410 and the containing base 420. The tamper-evident container 400 is integrally formed. The hinge 440 includes two tabs 441 and the release structure 430 is disposed at the hinge 440. The release structure 430 includes a break line 431 and two holes 432. The holes 432 are disposed at the break line 431 and each of the holes 432 is opposite to each of the tabs 441. Once the lid 410 fixes to and closes the containing base 420, the tamper-evident container 400 is almost unable to be opened unless a predetermined way is taken.

As the first embodiment, the manner the lid 410 fixes to and closes the containing base 420 may be snapping, latching, sealing and so on. Users separate the lid 410 from the containing base 420 by breaking the break line 431, for example, users may grasp or hold the tabs 441 to break the break line 431 and separate the lid 410 and the containing base 420. There would be no litter left but the lid 410 and the containing base 420 only when the tamper-evident container 400 is opened by the release structure 430. Thus, the tamper-evident container 400 is more convenient to users and also environmentally-friendly. On the other hand the tamper-evident container 400 may be made of polylactic acid to further reduce the burden of environment.

In other embodiments of the disclosure, the shape, the size, or the amount of the holes may be increased or decreased as needed as long as users can break the break line by them. For example, the shape of the holes may be ellipse, circle, or polygon. The size or the amount of the holes may depend on the size of the tamper-evident container. Moreover, the break line may be straight or other geometries and the break line may consist of a series of aligned cuts or a series of curved cuts. If the release structure is disposed at the lid, the holes and the tabs opposite to the holes may be obtained by making a cut in an arc on the lid and then folding the cut area. The holes and the tabs opposite to the holes at the containing base or the hinge may be obtained in the same way.

Although the present disclosure has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, their spirit and scope of the appended claims should no be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tamper-evident container, comprising: a containing base; a lid fixed to the containing base for closing; and a release structure disposed at the lid or the containing base, the release structure comprising: a break line; and at least one hole disposed on the break line; wherein the break line is for separating the lid and the containing base.
 2. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the release structure is disposed at the lid, and the lid further comprises at least one tab, wherein the tab is opposite to the hole.
 3. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the release structure is disposed at the containing base, and the containing base further comprises at least one tab, wherein the tab is opposite to the hole.
 4. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the tamper-evident container is made of polylactic acid.
 5. A tamper-evident container, comprising: a containing base; a lid fixed to the containing base for closing; a hinge connecting the lid and the containing base; and a release structure disposed at the hinge, the release structure comprising: a break line; and at least one hole disposed on the break line; wherein the break line is for separating the lid and the containing base.
 6. The tamper-evident container of claim 5, wherein the hinge further comprises at least one tab and the tab is opposite to the hole.
 7. The tamper-evident container of claim 5, wherein the tamper-evident container is made of polylactic acid.
 8. The tamper-evident container of claim herein the tamper-evident container is integrally formed.
 9. A tamper-evident container, comprising: a containing base; a lid fixed to the containing base for closing; a hinge connecting the lid and the containing base; and a release structure disposed at the hinge, the release structure comprising: a break line; and a plurality of holes disposed on the break line; wherein the break line is for separating the lid and the containing base.
 10. The tamper-evident container of claim 9, wherein the hinge further comprises a plurality of tabs and the tabs are opposite to the holes respectively.
 11. The tamper-evident container of claim 9, wherein the tamper-evident container is made of polylactic acid.
 12. The tamper-evident container of claim 10, wherein the tamper-evident container is integrally formed. 